Witzige/Wichtige Worte on Wednesday XI: Bleigießen

das Bleigießen

Since this term has no real translation, I'll just explain it to you. Bleigießen is a German New Year's Eve tradition (it may be done in other countries, but not to my knowledge). A candle or tea light is lit, and a piece of lead or tin is placed on a spoon and melted over the flame. Once the metal is fully liquefied, it is quickly poured into a bowl of cool water. Then, the cooled metal is removed, and the participants try to identify some sort of shape. The shape tells the person's fortune for the coming year.

Bleigießen kits can be inexpensively purchased, complete with spoon, tin pieces and a list of possible shapes and their meanings. Typically, the tin pieces come in the form of some good luck symbol (a pig, a bag of money, a mushroom, etc.).

Toward the end of my latest year in Germany, I purchased one such kit to share with my family back in the States. Since we knew we wouldn't all be together on New Year's Eve, we decided to it on Christmas day (close enough, right?). This is what my mushroom turned into:




I kind of think it looks like a jellyfish. Or maybe a squirrel?








 


Frohes Neues und einen guten Rutsch wünsch ich euch!
Bis bald!

12 Days of Christmas Day 12: Presents

Now, we all know that getting (and giving!!) presents is great, and a huge part of the season, but I'm not here to talk about the gifts themselves. I'd like to talk about when the gift-giving actually happens.

In a previous post, I talked about how Santa comes the night of December 24th in both countries. That wasn't entirely accurate.

In Germany, das Christkind comes in the evening on Christmas Eve, usually around dinnertime. The living room is usually closed off while dinner is being eaten. Depending on the family, the tree might or might not be already set up and decorated. At any rate, after dinner, the family moves over to the living room to see what goodies das Christkind brought for them.

In the US, we have to wait longer. While Santa does come on Christmas Eve, he won't come until all the children are asleep in bed. However, the wait is made up for by the magic of coming downstairs early in the morning to see the tree all lit up and the presents underneath. It's always been one of my favorite memories of Christmas growing up. Even if I then had to wait a few hours for my parents to wake up...

However you do it, the first reveal of the presents under the tree is definitely one of the most magical aspects of Christmas. Then, seeing everyone's delighted faces when they unwrap just the thing they were hoping for just puts the icing on the cake (or Christmas cookie, if you will).



I hope you all have a very merry Christmas! Frohe Weihnachten!

12 Days of Christmas Day 11: Cookies

Baking cookies is like the painting eggs of Christmas. It's tradition! In my family, we bake sugar cookies and decorate them with a homemade frosting and sprinkles. During my exchange year, I made cookies and iced them with a powdered sugar and lemon juice icing.  The sprinkles were large sugar crystals. Cookies come in all shapes, sizes and flavors. Whatever the kind, they seem to be an important part of the Christmas season.

Here in the US, we take that importance a little further. Before the children go to bed on December 24th, they leave out a platter of cookies and a glass of milk as a thank-you to Santa Claus (for a few years, my family even spread oatmeal out on the lawn for the reindeer). Santa doesn't always eat all the cookies - I mean, who could eat so many in one night?! - but he usually writes a little thank-you for the thought.


Bis morgen!

Witzige/Wichtige Worte on Wednesday X: Na?

na: "well"

This is another word that is very versatile in the Germany language and can change meaning based on the context and inflection. It can be used as a greeting. You can use it to express surprise or agreement. It can even be used to express reluctant resignation. Let me give you some examples.

Na (du)? - Hey! (An appropriate response to this would be another na.)
Na ja... - Well... (This is a way to respond to a question you're reluctant to answer, like if you got your homework done or if you told your in-laws they can't spend the holidays at your house.)
Na und? - So? So what? Who cares?
Na ja! - Oh, well! (Missed the bus? Na ja! Burned your bread in the toaster? Na ja! Didn't study for the test tomorrow? Na ja!)
Na gut! - Fine! Very well! Fair enough! (Usually used to give in, but still make it clear you're not happy about it.)
Na klar! - Of course! (Can you help me wash my car? Na klar! Do you want to go shopping tomorrow? Na klar! Do you want to eat pizza for dinner tonight? Na klar!)

These are by no means all the ways you can use na, but they are some of the more common ones.

Happy German-ing!

12 Days of Christmas Day 10: Santa

So, I totally intended to talk about Santa Claus and how he and der Weihnachtsmann compare and contrast. However, upon further research into the topic, I became confused. I guess that's what happens when your native traditions and customs are a hodge podge of those of other cultures. Let me try to explain.

In some parts of Germany, Sankt Nikolaus comes the night of December 5th to fill the shoes of children with small treats and gifts (as I mentioned in a previous post). In some traditions, the children can also leave a list for Sankt Nikolaus to pass on to the Weihnachtsmann, who delivers presents on the night of December 24th.

In the US, we mix those two traditions together. Santa Claus comes the night of December 24th to deliver presents, as well as fill shoes/stockings. Only some areas/families observe the St. Nick tradition.

Santa only comes to those who believe! So, don't stop believin'

!

For a more detailed and informative explanation, check out this site.

In either case, the gift-bringer who come on the 24th is a jolly old man with a long white beard and a red get-up. One rides a horse, while the other flies around in a sleigh pulled by magical reindeer. And both are certainly integral to modern celebrations of Christmas (at least as I know it).








Bis morgen!

12 Days of Christmas Day 9: Sweaters

Gorgeous!!

Part of what makes this season my favorite is the ability to get all cozy and put on some warm layers. Sweaters, scarves, hats, mittens, boots, stockings... So many possibilities! By far my favorites are the sweaters, though. And I'm not even just talking about the ugly Christmas sweaters that are so popular nowadays. I'm talking about the Norwegian sweaters. Seriously, put "Norwegian sweaters" into an image search. They look so beautiful and cozy! Something about a luxuriously soft and warm sweater just screams "Christmas!" to me.

Yep, I'd call that ugly!

Sweatshirts like this are all the rage.

                     

Bis morgen!

12 Days of Christmas Day 8: Movies

"I double-dog dare ya!"

Watching Christmas movies with my family is probably one of the most nostalgic aspects of the season. Every year on Christmas day, a certain TV station plays the movie "A Christmas Story" nonstop, for 24 hours straight. I love it. Some people in my family hate it. I don't let the TV be tuned to any other station. I own the movie on DVD. Also, the movie "Elf", with Will Farrell, has become another Christmas-time must in my household. I find it to be absolutely HI-larious. There are so many great one-liners. Plus, it's still very innocent and good for all ages. Then, of course, there's "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer". Can't forget that!

Buddy the elf!

Besides the big, well-known classics, there are also plenty of made-for-TV holiday movies. The acting and plot lines aren't always the best, but they still put me into the holiday spirit! If I'm ever in need of to something to watch or to play in the background this time of year, I'll always look for one of those to put on. Anything Christmas- or holiday-related is fine by me!

Rudolph!

In my time spent abroad, I didn't notice that there were any must-watch movies this time of year. Then again, I didn't watch too many movies or TV while over there. If any of my German readers would care to cue me in on what seasonal movies you watch, I'd be happy to know about them! Bitte, schreibt in den Kommentaren, wenn ihr irgendwelche Weihnachtsfilmen kennt, die jeder Deutsche mal gesehen hat! Da würde ich mich freuen!




Bis morgen!

12 Days of Christmas Day 7: Ornaments

Ornaments I bought in Germany

I. LOVE. CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS.

Just had to get that out of the way.

Of course, this is another area in which Germans and Americans tend to differ a bit. Typically, German Christmas trees have more traditional or simple ornaments: red balls, candy canes, bells, garland. American Christmas trees often have ornaments that are a little more... out there. (Anyone else noticing a trend, here?) For families in the US with children, it's also commonplace to see handmade ornaments. All through elementary school, we made some kind of ornament or decoration to give our parents. (Do Germans do that, too, and I somehow missed that? Someone, please, let me know!)

'MURICA

Not Real Candy

Also not edible

 

Say 'hello' to Kindergarten me!

Bis morgen!





                

12 Days of Christmas Day 6: St. Nick

Santa's inspiration?

St. Nick's Day (Sankt Nikolaus Tag) is a holiday commemorating St. Nicholas. He was known for his generosity toward the needy, and his love of children. The night before the anniversary of his death date (December 6th), children set out their shoes (or hang stockings) for St. Nick to find. On the next morning, they are delighted to find their shoes filled with sweets, fruit, nuts and a present of some kind. During my last stay in Germany, the children had to also clean their shoes before setting them out, or else St. Nick might not come (a clever way to get kids to clean their shoes without much of a struggle, if you ask me).

Again, this is something I haven't had in the past two years. I guess that means my childhood's just about over... Och, menno...



Bis morgen!

12 Days of Christmas Day 5: Christmas Trees

What's Christmas without a Christmas tree? Boring, that's what.

Our tree this year

My hostfamily's tree 2011

Like the lights, Christmas trees in the US, tend to be more extravagant than the ones typically seen in Germany. They're taller. The branches are fuller. The ornaments are often less traditional (which I will cover more closely later). The lights twinkle and flash (sometimes). However, that's not to say German Christmas trees aren't beautiful. They're natural. Simple. Elegant. Traditionally, there aren't lights, but candles. Real ones. (Though, you can buy fake candles, which lessen the fire hazard.) They also aren't put up as early as in the US, which kind of makes them a little more special (but I loove having a tree in the living room all December long).

Bis morgen!

Witzige/Wichtige Worte on Wednesday IX: Wichteln

wichteln: "imping"; to do a Secret Santa (gift exchange)

I thought this term was very fitting to the season (and needs little explanation, so it's perfect for a two-post day).

Get? 'Cause it's a secret Santa...

In case you are unfamiliar with either of these terms, wichteln is when you get a group of people together who want to play a fun, gift-giving game. Everyone puts their own name on a piece of paper, and the slips get folded up and put into a hat. Then, each person draws one name from the hat (if you get your own, you get to put it back in an pull another). Then, on a certain date, you all get together again to exchange your gifts. Often, the youngest or oldest will start by giving a gift to the person they drew. Then, the one who just received a present gives to their person, and so on. Some variations include secretly giving small presents leading up to the main gift exchange. Hence the term "Secret Santa". You are not supposed to know who pulled your name until the reveal at the end.

My family used to do it all the time, when us grandkids were younger, and the extended family wasn't so extended. I've also done it a few times in grade school with my classmates, as well as in high school with just a couple of friends. At any age, it's definitely a fun way to get into the gift-giving spirit!

Bis morgen!

12 Days of Christmas Day 4: Lights

Lights are part of what make this season so magical to me. At a time when the weather isn't the best, and everything seems lifeless, they bring warmth and beauty. It's even better when we actually have healthy layer of snow to complete the look (which we don't have at this point...).

ein Lichterbogen

Of course, there are many different ways to use said lights, from tacky and over-the-top, to pretty and simplistic. From my experience, Germans prefer rather simple light displays. During my time there, I saw some Lichterbögen (light arches) and lot of paper star lanterns. A few places had strings of lights in the windows, and even fewer had lights actually on the outside of the houses. At the Weihnachtsmärkten is where you can find more ambitious displays ( as seen here.)

I have to get me one of these!

Americans, on the other hand, tend to err on the side of over-the-top. Trees and bushes draped in lights. Inflatable snowmen and Santas in the front yard. Lit-up deer grazing on the lawn. Music that coordinates with the blinking and flashing of the lights. Some people also put up the classic nativity scene, though they're usually done with plastic figures, which also happen to light up. But, I'm sure you all know what the stereotypical American house looks like on Christmas.



My family? Well, we prefer to keep it on the simple side.

Just needs some snow!

Bis später!

12 Days of Christmas Day 3: Glühwein

 

Some wine getting its mull on!

Oh, Glühwein... I can usually say I love just about everything and anything Germany has to offer, but this is where I draw the line. For starters, I'm not a huge fan of wine. Heating it up and mulling it with spices and other flavor does nothing to help its cause with me. However, no self-respecting Weihnachtsmarkt would be complete without it. And, as such, it certainly is an important part of the Christmas season. 

I lied, this picture is mine.

Typically, it is served in a mug of some sort which commemorates the Markt itself, and possibly the specific year. This mug can either be kept, or returned to the stand in exchange for Pfand (security deposit). I would prefer a simple hot chocolate or a beer, if it has to alcoholic. Still, I would definitely suggest you try it for yourself. If nothing else, you'll get a cool little keepsake out of the deal!

(Please note: I don't own any of these pictures. I loaned them from a Google search.)

Glühwein hier! Get your Glühwein hier!

 Bis morgen!

12 Days of Christmas Day 2: Christmas Markets

No Christmas in Germany is complete without a visit to a Weihnachtsmarkt (unless, of course, you're a bit of Scrooge, then there's no helping you). As I mentioned in a previous post, I love going to them. During my stays in Germany, I visited the same ones multiple times per season. I've been to four different ones. So far, my favorite has been the one in Bremen. Since I've already talked a bit about Weihnachtsmärkte in another post, I'm just going to post some photos from the various markets I've been lucky enough to visit (specifically, from my visit to the one in Bremen last year).

12 Days of Christmas Day 1: Advent Calendars

 Advent Calendars (Adventskalender) have to be the first thing on my list. I mean, you open the first door on the first of December. It just makes sense.

For those of you who don't know (and it came as a surprise to me to learn that not everyone in the US knows what these are), a "traditional" Advent Calendar is a cardboard and plastic container with little doors on it. Each door has one number (1-25) on it, which is to be opened on the corresponding date. Behind the door is a little piece of chocolate with some winter-related image on it. To be honest, though, some of the images can be a bit of a stretch and/or hard to identify.

Of course, there are a ton of variations to this traditional calendar. There are shelves with drawers, hanging cloths with pockets and big Lego boxes (among others). In addition, not all calendars have just chocolate. Some have other types of candy, small presents and actual Lego pieces and figures.

I so want to make one for someone!

I actually haven't had an Advent Calendar the past two years. No one has bought one for me, and I'm too cheap to buy my own (not that they're that expensive). However, I always had one growing up, and they remain one of my favorite parts of the Christmas season.

 So, that's just about all I have to say about that!

Bis morgen!

Witzige/Wichtige Worte on Wednesday VIII: Pfand

das Pfand: deposit, collateral

This is something I know is used in some states, but I think it should be in place in all of them. Pfand is something applied to most cans and bottles in Germany. You pay a few cents more when you buy bottled water or soda. Then, you bring the empty bottles back to the grocery store, put them into this nifty little (it's actually usually kind of big) and get a receipt. Bring that slip of paper to the checkout after you've done your shopping, and you get those extra cents back! It's genius! It motivates people to recycle and not litter! There are even people that make a living from collecting these bottles at music festivals.



Very important to know about, if you plan on going to Germany. Don't throw away bottles with the Pfandflasche symbol! I mean, you wouldn't throw away money, would you?

International Bloggers and 12 Days of Christmas

Hey, everyone!

I just wanted to take a moment to mention the other blogs I have linked on the right-hand side. Maybe you've noticed them? Anyway, as you can see, I've sorted them out a bit by blog type. Some of them are in German, so be aware of that. At any rate, I thought anyone who is interested in my experiences and what I have to say about them, might also be interested in the sometimes similar, sometimes totally different experiences of others. If you, too, have a blog about your international adventures (past or present), and would like me to add it to my list, feel free to post a link in a comment on this post! Just be sure to let me know what category it falls under. :)


Also, I am planning on doing a mini-series of posts starting on December 14th. Each day until Christmas day (Dec. 25th), I will be talking about one of my favorite things about the Christmas season. I will, of course, be comparing and contrasting the German and American spins on each item. So, you'll have that to look forward to! (Yes, I will (try to) continue doing WWWoW. So, the Wednesdays in that time period will have two posts.)

Bis dann! ^__^

Witzige/Wichtige Worte on Wednesdays VII: Weihnachten

(das) Weihnachten: "hallowed nights" (more or less); Christmas

I'm going to go out on a limb here and assume that this term doesn't need much clarification, and instead, I'm going to use this as an opportunity to talk about Christmassy things. ('Cause it's my blog, and I make the rules here!)

Christmas markets in Germany are almost magical (to me, anyway). Cold air. Twinkling lights. Cinnamon-roasted nuts. Pretty ornaments and decorations of glass and wood. Snow (if you're lucky). They are definitely part of what makes me love Germany, and they're something the US (or at least my corner of it) hasn't quite figured out.

See? See?! Lederhosen!!

Over the past couple of weeks, I've been to two different Christkindlmarkets (as they call them here). One was a total flop. All in-doors. Very few vendors. No roasted nuts. The other was quite a bit better. More vendors, at least half of which were outdoors. A nice-sized beer tent, with a great atmosphere. Roasted nuts. Despite all those positives, there was one negative: it felt quite Oktoberfest-y to me. Lots of polka and Lederhosen. I know these events are mostly a celebration of the area's German heritage, but still. I've yet to find a close match to the markets of Germany. I guess I'll just have to keep looking!

Apparently, German-themed events and Hofbrau go hand-in-hand.

Bis bald!